Interview – Jason Gray
Sep 6, 2009 Feature
Welcome, Jason Gray, singer-songwriter and brother in Christ, last we talked you were in the process of making the new album, Everything Sad is Coming Untrue. You mentioned then and I’ve read again about a significant event that preceded this recording, that being a two-year struggle with writers block. What a relief it must be to have the record complete and on the shelves so to speak.
Is it possible to even express in a few words how that time felt to you? How it impacted you emotionally, physically, and spiritually?
It was scary, for sure. I tried not to worry about it, trusting that it’s good to let the ground have a season of rest and that it would eventually yield something again – I try to trust the process – but as the time stretched on I began to worry that maybe my music making days were over, or worse – that I no longer had anything to say.
Do you believe breaking through and accomplishing Everything Sad is Coming Untrue will put that time wholly behind you?
There are always seasons where you let the ground rest, but I do hope that I won’t have such an extended season like that again.
Being a singer-songwriter, the personal story of the writer is usually forefront of the product. Is there a singular song that was is the expression of this former time in your life?
You know, actually, there’s a song about it from my last record, “All The Lovely Losers,” an older album I recorded independently and then was later picked up by Centricity Records. They asked me to write 3 new songs to add to that record, and that was when the creative block really reared its ugly head and I had a hard time squeezing those songs out. “Sing Through Me” off my last record was inspired by my creative block, and it proved to be a block that only worsened and then went much longer than I imagined – nearly 3 years. But “The Golden Boy and The Prodigal” from my new record was the song that broke the writer’s block. In this song, I gave up trying to please anyone – radio, my audience, my peer artists – and just tried to write something true without regard to how it would be received. That proved to be liberating enough to knock a little crack in the dam, and the songs started flowing after I wrote that one.
You have written that the album was originally themed around confession, but was eventually penned more towards renewal. Do you think the two themes are intertwined within your own experience?
Absolutely. There’s a part of me that wishes I could have done a whole album about confession, but I had to be grateful for the songs that came! And confession is truly a part of renewal. And there’s another part of me that is grateful that things went the way they did – I think in the end I’ve ended up with a much more accessible album that I hope will give me more chances to explore the minor theme of confession within the larger theme of renewal.
If I have read it right, the song “More Like Falling In Love” is about moving into a relationship with Jesus as compared to having a faith centered on knowledge alone. In essence it would be like going from ceremonial to relational with your faith. Is that a fair assessment? Do you see a separation from the relational aspect of Christianity as a major concern for the church today?
You know, I’m not trying to be controversial – and I understand why I might make some people nervous with this – but that song came, in part, from this moment when it hit me as strange that though almost the whole of scripture defines our faith as relational and having to do with the heart, parts of evangelical Christianity keep emphasizing faith as an intellectual assent. We can get to thinking that salvation comes from believing a certain set of propositional facts about who Jesus is. That’s part of it, but the scriptures talk about how God looks upon the heart… I’ve even wondered if it’s possible for a person whose heart is toward God to be saved before their mind catches up. I remember as a boy always having a sense of God’s presence in my life, a sense that He was pursuing me, and I would pray and talk to him – and this was long before I’d heard of Jesus. When I finally heard of Jesus, it was clear that this was who I’d been praying to all along, and now I finally knew his name. At which point was I saved? If we define salvation as something that occurs with intellectual assent, then probably when I was about 15. If we define it relationally, then maybe when I was in the 3rd grade. If you’re a Calvinist, then maybe it occurred when the foundations of the earth were being laid. Who knows, it’s all a wonderful mystery, and though that’s not all of what this song is about, this was some of the wondering that I was doing around the time that I wrote this song. Essentially, it’s a song about moving from religion to relationship, that Jesus came to give us more than information about who God is, but to give us access to his heart.
You are personally involved in ministries – youth retreats, World Vision – and touring (extensively). You have a lovely family with a quiver full of joyful rambunctiousness. Between life on the road and life at home how do you maintain and strengthen the relational aspect of your faith? How do you really come to the point where your worship is as you say “more to do with the kind of life I live”?
I think you’re asking about my relationship with my family, right? It is difficult to maintain healthy relationships when you’re on the road as much as I am, but first and foremost I believe that God has given us grace for it – that’s the best explanation I can give. But when I am home, I believe my worship consists of being a good, available parent/spouse. It looks like really listening to my wife, not getting defensive and taking it as criticism when she expresses her loneliness, need, or what’s overwhelming to her. I think for a lot of marriages, insecurity is the great enemy. If a wife says she are lonely or overwhelmed, the husband might get defensive and tell her he’s doing all he can to provide for her, etc. – what more does she want? Then both feel overwhelmed and alienated. But if he can let her have her feelings without taking it personally, he can say, “I’m so sorry you feel that way, I know that this busy season with my work must be hard on you – I can’t wait til things slow down so I can give you the attention that I want to.” So learning to be secure as the head of our household, not be defensive, and honoring my wife’s feelings are a large part of my worship as a spouse. It’s similar with my sons, too – giving them my attention whenever I’m home.
Sometimes saying “no” to worthy causes or events that ask me for my participation is a form of worship, too. Saying “no” to certain things is in essence saying “yes” to my family.
Stepping aside from the more personal side lets talk about the “making of” Everything Sad Is Coming Untrue. From what I have viewed on your MySpace page the actual process seemed to go quite well. Do you see the partnership with Jason Ingram continuing on with future efforts?
If he’ll work with me, I’d love to continue working with him. He’s really in demand these days, but we did have a great time working together and I think we produced something worthwhile. He really helped me take what I do and wrap it up in a package that hopefully is more accessible.
The final production has a fair mix of singer-songwriter type songs and some more heavily pop-flavored tunes. The overall translation of your prose into song appears effortless. How exciting was it to hear the final product after checking off all the squares on the production board?
Glad to hear it sounds effortless – it wasn’t! That aspect of it was very hard for me. I naturally write with more of a singer/songwriter kind of language and with several of these songs I had to discipline myself to write broader lyrics. The simplest sounding songs on the record were the hardest for me to write.
You have some crazy options here when it comes to buying the new album. Where did all this creativity come from? And what size is your shirt?
It kind of started as a joke, and then we thought we’d run with it – and we’ve had a few takers! A fan bought the package where they will be coming to our house for dinner, a mini-concert, followed by watching Nacho Libre and playing board games. The other packages are still available on my site and I’m hoping that people will take advantage of them, and maybe even pick the one where they can have a shirt from my closet! (I wear XL and L, depending on the shirt 
Last question, I observed in the videos on your MySpace (and on the Bethlehem Skyline tour) that there appears to be a real community within the Centricity label. Do you see it that way? Does it feel that way?
Definitely, the DNA of the label is very relationally driven. Whereas many labels don’t want their artists getting together, talking with each other, comparing notes (and contracts!), Centricity keeps bringing us together and encouraging our relationships. There’s no place I’d rather be than with Centricity Music.
In closing I would like to say that when I work on a crossword puzzle, I usually have my finger on the answer page in the back of the book. If I could, I would do the same with liner notes when it comes to singer/songwriter type music. So what does it mean that Everything Sad is Coming Untrue?
Well, if you or your readers order my special or deluxe edition of my CD, it comes with a 32 page devotional-style booklet with commentary on each of the songs, kind of like the answer page (wink wink 
I’ll include a passage from the book that talks about this:
The idea of everything sad coming untrue came from Tolkien’s “The Lord Of The Rings” where Sam wakes after the darkest day of his life to find those he thought dead were alive and that all was well.
“’Gandalf! I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself. Is everything sad going to come untrue? What’s happened to the world?’
‘A great shadow has departed,’ said Gandalf, and then he laughed, and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land… “
The beauty of those words rang so many bells inside of me: the idea not that everything sad is untrue (which would be a cruel invalidation of our present sorrows) – nor that everything will come untrue someday (which reduces the hope of redemption to mere wishful thinking) – but that somehow, even right now in the face of the saddest that we see, the seeds of its undoing are sown. In fact, they were sown the day the body of Jesus, like a seed himself, was laid in the ground. What took root on Easter is the undoing of the curse, and it is flowering all around us if we have eyes to see it. Everything that’s been on my mind in the making of this record – confession, redemption, renewal – can be summed up, I think, in the thought and hope that everything sad is coming untrue.
Thanks for your time Jason. I can see that your touring schedule is tight right now and I know that summers are a busy time for you as well. I hope we get the chance to actually meet in person again in the future – still working on Ken C. to line that up for us! Peace.
It was great to talk with you again! I was just in Waukesha again this past weekend and was remembering our conversation there. Be blessed!
JG
Tags: Jason Gray
Jason Gray – Everything Sad is Coming Untrue
Sep 6, 2009 CD Reviews
Jason Gray
Everything Sad is Coming Untrue
Centricity
Grade – A
The latest from singer/songwriter Jason Gray, “Everything Sad is Coming Untrue,” is as pleasing as a cool but sunny end of summer morning. While this is “just” Jason’s sophomore release with Centricity, his history goes back much further. Prior to signing with Centricity and re-releasing “All the Lovely Losers,” Jason Gray already had built a solid ministry behind his music.
While the label brings wider distribution and more attention it also comes with more responsibilities and challenges. One such challenge is making music that is more accessible – or “radio friendly.” In an interview last winter we talked briefly about this challenge and Jason acknowledged that making a “hit” is always at the forefront, but the integrity of the song is principal. With “Everything Sad is Coming Untrue,” Jason has cleared that hurdle like a high-jumper clearing a puddle.
The new material did not come easy though as Jason went through an extended period of time where the words would not come and for over two-years Jason struggled with writers block. Fortunately Jason was released from that bondage as he surrendered the process to the Lord and the result is a more pop-accessible, but highly personal set of songs that speak to the heart and lift the spirit.
I can’t imagine what it was like to have these thoughts and feelings undulating in your head without an outlet (lyrics) to share them. Obviously Jason had plenty to say, and when they songs rolled out they were not superficial. There is the introspective “More Like Falling In Love” and “Fade With Our Voices” that touch on renewing our faith on a more personal level. The title track itself meant so much to Jason that he just could not get it all out in one track, hence there are two title tracks (Part 1 and Part 2). Lastly, if you’re looking for that “radio hit,” look no further than “I Am New,” a rousing track with a big pop sound that is sure to raise your blood pressure in excitement.
For more on Jason Gray and “Everything Sad is Coming Untrue” check out his MySpace page and for sure take some time to watch through the “behind the scenes” videos on the page. You can check out our own exclusive interview as well by clicking here.
Ken W.
Tags: Jason Gray
The Glorious Unseen – The Hope That Lies In You
Sep 6, 2009 CD Reviews
The Glorious Unseen
The Hope That Lies In You
BEC Recordings
Grade – A
Ben Crist leads the Glorious Unseen, and the band came about through a ministry involvement where Ben was asked to lead worship. Leading worship was a seemingly unlikely path according to the PR materials, as Ben was more into hardcore and emo than modern worship. However, Ben does note that he was heavily influenced by Delirious. I also believe that Ben’s emo influences have not been wholly washed away. I could not really put my finger on this style of worship until I read about his musical background. It’s like a new kind of worship, we have classic worship, modern worship, progressive worship, and now maybe, emo-worship.
Anyway you label it; the feeling I get when listening is that this is truly authentic and passionate worship. It is like The Glorious Unseen has invited us along their spiritual journey. Where they have revealed their inner spiritual leanings and their personal battles. It is also very poetic in many ways.
One particular song that I have fallen in love with is “Heavy Hearted.” This is a song about despair and doubt that is ultimately conquered by hope. Hope is a common theme through out the CD – hence the title. Anyway, “Heavy Hearted” has a real cool sound that stirs the emotions, while the lyrics prod your heart. It is a cool reminder of the grace of God.
When I feel so heavyhearted, I know you’re taking me back!
When you take me as I am; it’s like the sunlight gracing the land
When I feel heavyhearted – please, come and take my hand
“The Hope That Lies In You” is well crafted musically with lots of layers and textures guiding you through the emotions and musings of the lyrics. I for one would find this kind of honesty and passion very helpful in my daily worship.
Ken W.
Tags: The Glorious Unseen
Leeland – Love Is On The Move
Sep 6, 2009 CD Reviews
Leeland
Love Is On The Move
Essential Records
Grade – A
Leeland has far exceeded my expectations with their sophomore CD “Love Is On The Move.” It proves beyond a doubt that the band is not a flash in the pan. The lyrics show wisdom beyond their age and it comes across with a real genuine emotion. I would not have believed all the hype had I not actually spent some time listening and talking to Leeland Mooring myself.
This past summer at Lifest I had an opportunity to go over the new album with Leland. I had just received the pre-release and only had one chance to listen to it on the way to the festival. When I brought out the CD and started asking questions I was amazed at how the band lit up and were so eager to talk about it – and not just because they were trying to make a sell. They were truly excited about what they had to say on the CD. Genuine.
On “Love Is On The Move” the band attempts to make a connection between social justice and worship. A new track called “Follow You” talks about reaching out to the poor and broken. It is a call to action that reflects the bands new mission/motivation. “Via Dolorosa” is a musical vision of the journey to the cross and the suffering of Christ on our behalf. I particularly like the triumphant ending where everything comes to a climax with the power of the risen Christ. The one song that is more “feel-good” than action orientated is “New Creation.” Nonetheless it is a cool song with a melodic hook that kind of picks you up and sweeps you away.
The title track is both bleak and hopeful as Leeland sings about the reality of life today – a poor man unable to even eat or a rich man who appears to have everything, but has nothing, spiritually bankrupt – and then the hope – a hope in Christ – love on the move. This love came to us through a savior and through the Holy Spirit so we can also be “love on the move.” It’s a revelation that the band is dedicated to and it shows in their artistry and attitude.
“Love Is On The Move” is available now and you can catch Leeland on tour with Brandon Heath and Francesca Battistelli. For more information check out their official website http://www.leelandonline.com/.
Ken W.
Tags: Leeland
Heatherlyn
Sep 6, 2009 CD Reviews
Heatherlyn
Self-Titled
Independent
Grade – A
This past summer at Lifest I went to an artist talkback session featuring Heatherlyn. The topic of discussion was to be about being an independent artist. However, due to a prominent headliner (T-Mac I believe) performing at the same time, the turn out was not so great. It was good for me though because I got to have a one-on-one discussion with Heatherlyn and her husband Jason.
We did talk a bit about independent artistry, but the main subject matter of the conversation was much broader. We spent a lot of time talking about her music and how she’s passionate about social justice. Having not heard Heatherlyn sing I was not at that moment cognizant of what her music was like. What I did glean from the conversation was that she wished to be open and accessible to any audience. For Heatherlyn the cause was too important to constrain her music to one particular genre or audience. The primary cause in this case is social justice.
Jason was kind enough to give me a free download of Heatherlyn’s latest CD. The strongest message on the self-titled CD is “Hard To Swallow” which brings to light the plight of the poor nations whose simple needs are not even met – a need for clean water in this case. The song is really hard to ignore once it gets into your head. It really puts things into perspective. And it is written well enough that it does not come across as pushy or preachy. It’s just a simple reality that we can all do something about. Which is where “Do What You Can” fits in nicely. It is a simple plea for action – “we all have something we can give.” The strong language continues with “sitting around is no longer just fine, it’s more like some kind of cruel crime.” Again, well done and tastefully presented in a song.
I walked away from the aforementioned conversation thinking that her faith was something secondary to the mission. However, I think that she may have undersold herself on this matter. She tended to shy away from this topic or downplay it a bit during our conversation. After the fact I have found through her music plenty of instances where her faith is very transparent and evident. I mean the album starts off with “Irish Blessing,” a spiritual greeting of sort. I also like how she tagged “Hard to Swallow” with scripture (Matthew 25). Lastly, I think we can draw from the song “Lift” that at a minimum we can earnestly pray or “lift hearts to heaven” for those who are poor, broken, or in need. As Heatherlyn sings, love will overcome. Love and Hope is something we can offer at very little cost.
For more on Heatherlyn and her music check out her official website at http://www.heatherlynmusic.com/.
Ken W.
Tags: Heatherlyn
Matt Papa – Your Kingdom Come
Sep 6, 2009 CD Reviews
Matt Papa
Your Kingdom Come
Centricity
Grade – A
Forget what you know or expect from a minister/artist because Matt Papa is about to blow away all your pre-conceived notions about said. What I was expecting was a more laid-back acoustic led worship experience. Why? I don’t know even know.
Admittedly, I knew nothing of Matt Papa previous to this release, even though our very own Rob Snyder made the call over three years ago that Matt Papa was one of the best new artist of the year (read the review here).
Papa’s latest release, “Your Kingdom Come,” is on the Centricity label. A change from his 2006 release on Spin 360 Records. The album launches off with jet like speed with the opening track, “Hallelujah, Our God Reigns.” The song has a resounding soundtrack with several climatic declarations of praise and worship.
The overall feel of the album is a progressive form of praise and worship including “Here Am I, Send Me,” “You Can Do Anything,” and “Every Knee Will Bow.” Over all there is over an hour of stimulating music that demands attention and hopefully evokes some action – “Where Is The Difference.”
For comparisons sake, it’s like The Rocket Summer, David Crowder, and Delirious all got together to make an album. It is progressive and poignant worship with a lot of flair and passion. (He’s also got this Keith Green kind of look.) For more on Matt Papa and “Your Kingdom Come” check out the Centricity website or Matt’s personal site http://mattpapa.com/.
Ken W.
Tags: Matt Papa
Derek Webb – Stockholm Syndrome
Sep 6, 2009 CD Reviews
Derek Webb
Stockholm Syndrome
INO Records
Grade – B
I honestly do not feel intelligent enough to even tackle this particular review. Having read many others (provided by Webb’s own website) I do not think I can even add anything of importance. So with that I’ll give you the basics and encourage you to dig into some of the more advanced reviews (see link below for a start).
For starters, Derek Webb is known for shaking things up and for thinking critically (not in the negative context but in the intellectual context). Always one to try to perforate comfort levels, Webb has written poignant, albeit cryptic, songs that challenge the listener. His latest release is no different – wait, it is different – this time the controversy started even before the album was released.
Maybe controversy is too strong of a word – the healthy debate – centered on one song that contained a swear word. The debate was about whether or not to include the song on the album as is, slightly censored, or leave it off all together. In the end the decision was to leave it off the record and let Webb retain rights to release it as he saw fit.
With that behind us we can get on to thinking about the here and now. What does “Stockholm Syndrome” have for the listener as is. The style is all over the place, however, it generally keeps a more subdued tone. Like a good documentary the album makes you think harder. It entices you to learn more. Sonically the more organic sound is quite entertaining. I think it adds to the originality of the album and makes it even more thought provoking.
Ultimately, Webb is in no need of rave reviews or wide acceptance. If he were he would still be writing radio-friendly pop or worship. Also, he would not have prescribed to the free distribution of his music via the web. Enough said. If you have not been privy to the healthy debate and you’re open to critical thinking than this is a cool way to gain knowledge or a new perspective of life in today’s culture.
Ken W.
http://mlawrencekey.wordpress.com/2009/09/03/derek-webbs-stockholm-syndrome-review-redux/
Tags: Derek Webb
Endeverance – Avenues
Sep 6, 2009 CD Reviews
Endeverance
Avenues
Indie
Grade – C
“Avenues” was given to me this past summer at Lifest in Oshkosh, WI. I had not actually seen the band but someone else had grabbed the CD for me thinking that I would certainly want to hear this project. I have to say, I have not been disappointed, aside from the fact that they were right there at the festival and I did not get the chance to see them live.
This Indie band hails from the Tacoma, WA area where they have established what appears to be a solid regional following – if not wider than that. The bands mantra is rock and the album fits the bill perfectly. There are plenty of guitar filled moments and big rock beats backed by melodious choruses and leads.
The album is tightly woven together and while there is not one track that sticks out significantly more than the others, the overall vibe I get is that the band has a lot of talent, passion, and drive. The band is in a hard place though, where they will need to really prove themselves in the rock genre. Depending on just how far they wish to take their musical career/ministry that is.
You can find more information on the band from their MySpace page. There is not a lot of content for background information, but you can listen to the songs. I would suggest listening to “City Lights” for sure to get a good idea of what the band is capable of.
Ken W.
Tags: Endeverance
Charles Billingsley – God of the Ages
Sep 6, 2009 CD Reviews
Charles Billingsley
God of the Ages
Redtie Records
Grade – B
“God of Ages” is a significant release for Charles Billingsley. With a rich history focused around his voice, from leading NewSong to leading worship at Thomas Road Baptist Church, from the outside it would look like everything centered on his vocal abilities. That concept however was tested when Charles faced the possibility of never being able to sing again – losing his “voice” of worship. It was discovered in 2008 that Charles had a polyp on his left vocal cord. The discovery challenged what he knew and thought of as worship. In the process, Charles surrendered to the Lord and realized that he could indeed worship God “without a note, without a song and a voice.”
The new release is a collection of songs chosen specifically because of this experience. One such song that Billingsley points out is “When I Don’t Know What To Do” which speaks of surrender and falling into God’s arms. Among the other 15 tracks you will find inspiration, joy, and reverence to a great God who is there to help carry us through the valleys (“Every Where I Go”).
“God of Ages” was recorded live at Thomas Road and the live recording does indeed capture the moment well. The church is well known for it’s choir and they add a lot to the project. It is also nice to have the interjections between songs to know just what they mean to Billingsley and how they helped him in his time of need.
Ken W.
Tags: Charles Billingsley
Unspoken – Extended Play
Sep 6, 2009 CD Reviews
Unspoken
Extended Play
Independent
Grade – B
The untitled EP from Unspoken was one of two CD’s given to me at a local festival this past summer (Lifest.com). Unfortunately I did not have the chance to either see the band or talk to them personally. However, what I did find online was that the band started in 2003 as an acoustic duo and grew into a quartet with a more Latin sound that comes from their varied backgrounds. Additionally, Unspoken recently relocated to Nashville where they are working on a development contract with Provident Label Group. The band is also considering a name change according to a post on their MySpace page.
The EP has a nice blend of pop/worship with a slight twist of Latin influences. Members of the band wrote all six tracks included on the EP. All of which are well written and the soundtrack is distinctly original across the board. “It Was You” is one of the more worship oriented songs and “More Than Enough” is a funky tune where the Latin influences really shine.
This group will be one to watch as things develop with Provident and in the mean time it might be a good idea to mark their MySpace page, at least to keep up with the name change!
Ken W.
Tags: Unspoken
